For the last two months there has been so much gathering going on in and around our house! Gathering recipes, playlists, special serving pieces, pictures. . . all the things we think we need for a successful gathering of people. Making a way through pages and pages of to-do lists, guest lists, grocery lists, it’s easy to forget the MOST IMPORTANT INGREDIENT is the guests we are hoping to gather.

Before packing boxes for our new (to us) home were cleared, invitations to the Buddy Bag Project Partner Celebration were already heading out the door. Each invitation carried a twofold prayer for the one(s) receiving them, whether they were able to attend or not: thanksgiving and blessing.

The work of Buddy Bag Project, Inc. is made possible through God’s help, and

the generous gifts of our Partners.

For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Matthew 18:20 RSV

How cool to be in the midst, and watching faces of Buddy Bag Partners as we revealed totals for each kind of campaign during our first two years. (Truthfully, the mouth dropping didn’t really start until we got to the hot weather care number of 300. )

Then one of our most devoted Partners pulled out his phone calculator. When the campaigns were gathered and totaled, I asked him for the bottom line.

There it was, Dear Reader: in two short years, Buddy Bag Project, Inc. gathered, packed and delivered ELEVEN HUNDRED BAGS! How great is that?

Give, and it will be given to you: a good helping, squashed down, shaken in, and overflowing—that’s what will land in your lap. Yes: the ration you give to others is the ration you’ll get back for yourself.

Luke 6:38 nte

We are challenged by the Old Testament to “freely open (our) hand(s)” to those in need. In doing so, Jesus encourages us that caring for others is caring for Him: “Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’ (Matthew 24:40 MSG)

My prayer, Dear Reader, is for the Big Reveal of 1100 will empower Buddy Bag Project, Inc., to not only continue the work we’ve started, but also empower us to cast our nets even further.

God continues choosing to use and bless us in ways we had not imagined when we started. The bottom line isn’t a number; it’s knowing we can never outgive God. It’s Buddy Bag Project, Inc. offering our service for God’s glory, and I can’t wait to see how He will call and empower us to cast our nets in the upcoming year!

Put yourself in the middle of these smiling people, Dear Reader! Join us as we strive to care for the “overlooked and ignored” with humility, obedience, and passion. For more info, please visit our Facebook page or website.